Fluid-cooling apparatus.



G. H. WALKER.

FLUID COOUNG APPARATUS.

APPLICATION mgo JAN. II. 1916.

Pateglted Jan. 16, 1917.

.nnrrnn er reins.

GEORGE HENRY VIALKER, 0F WORCESTER, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR TO HEENAN & FROUDE, LIMITED, OF MANCHESTER, ENGLAND.

FLUID-COOLING- APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 116, Midi.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE HENRY /VALKER, a British subject, residing at *Worcester, county of Worcester, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fluid-Cooling Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to apparatus for cooling water or air or otherwise treating gases with liquids in which the lower portion of a laminated drum comprising a plurality of sections rotates in a trough or tank in an inclosed chamber. As at present con structed the trough or tank is divided by bafl'le plates into a number of compartments and the water enters direct into the first compartment and thence flows through the several compartments to an outlet pipe at the other end of the machine. The hot water entering and the water from each compartment as it flows into the neXt immediately mixes with the water contained therein and is reduced to the temperature of the water therein before it is taken up by the convolutions or plates of the revolving drum.

This invention is designed to direct the inflowing hot water and the water as it flows from one compartment into the next direct onto the plates on the rising side of the rotor before mixing with the water in the compartment thereby raising considerably the mean temperature difl'erence between the air passing through the annular spaces of the drum and the film of water with which it is brought into contact.

It consists essentially in constructing the apparatus with an inlet funnel so placed as to force the inflowing hot water into the spaces between the convolutions of the first section of the drum on the upwardly moving side and with double bafile plates between the sections with portions thereof cut away at alternate sides to direct the partially cooled water as it leaves the first section to the spaces between the convolutions of the next section of the drum on the upwardly moving side.

It will be fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which sufficient of a cooler is shown to illustrate the invention.

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section. 2 is a plan with cover removed. Fig. 3 end elevation of feed end showing the Fig. is an inlet funnel D. Fig. 4 is a transverse section showing the baflie plate E. Fig. 5 is a transverse section showing the baflie plate F. Fig. (i is a perspective view of a batlie plate or weir 7 clearly illustrating the discharging lip or flange f.

The apparatus is constructed with a rotor A or" convolutions of sheet metal wound spirally, helically, concentrically or otherwise around a central hub, a tank B divided into compartments or sections, within which the rotor or drum A rotates, said tank being provided with a cover C. At the feed end of the tank B an inlet funnel D is fitted more or less closely against the drum plates and of such a shape as to direct and force the inflowinghot water into the spaces between the convolutions of the drum A over a fairly wide area on the rising side of the rotor A and before the water has an opportunity of mixing with or flowing into the water contained in the tank B.

In the tank B between the different compartments into which it is divided for the sections of the rotor, two bafiie plates or partitions E and F are fitted in spaced relation to form between them a water space or auxiliary compartment G. The battle plates E and F form weirs over which the water flows from onecompartment of the casing B to the next one. Both bafl'le plates are made deeper than. the water level in the tank and the plate E is made with a cut-away portion or gap 6 to allow the water, after having been cooled by its rotation with the rotor A, to flow into the auxiliary compartment G, and the plate F is made with a cutaway portion or gap 7 at the opposite side of the tank to direct the water as it flows into the next compartment onto the rotor. The gap 7 of the baffle plate F is made with a lip f to force the water into the spaces between the convolutions of the rotor A on the rising side.

The hot water as it enters the tank B is taken up by the rotor A and considerably cooled by the air before mixing with the cooler water in the tank, the temperature difference between the inflowing water and the air being much greater; and as the water flows through the tank from compartment to compartment over the diiferent sections of the rotor A, it will flow out of the first compartment at the point near to where the plates of the rotor or cooling drum A reenter the water and will be delivered to the next compartment at a point near to where the plates of the rotor leave the water, and will flow or find its way onto the plates of the rotor, being again considerably further cooled before mixing with the water in the next compartment and so on through the machine similar baflie plates or weirs being introduced between the second and third sections and each succeeding section of the machine. By this construction the first or end compartment of the trough or tank is closed by the plate E against the direct or straight flow of hot water which might otherwise short-circuit or flow direct from the funnel D to the second section without having been subjected to the cooling action of the rotor, the water then flows over the gap 6 in the plate E into the auxiliary compartment G from which it is directed by the gap f in the plate F onto the cooling surfaces of the next section of the rotor A thereby preventing any portion of the water flowing through the machine from compartment to compartment without being cooled.

What I claim as my invention and desire to protect by Letters Patent is 1. A cooler, comprising a plurality of liquid containing compartments, a rotor in each of said compartments, and means for delivering liquid from one compartment at a point adjacent to where the rotor in said compartment enters the liquid therein, to the adjacent compartment at a point adjacent to where the rotor in the latter compartment emerges from the liquid therein.

2. In a cooler, a tank divided into compartments, a rotor divided into sections, one in each compartment, and means to direct the flowing water into each compartment of the tank adjacent to the rising side of the rotor and to direct the flowing water out Copies of this patent may be obtained for of the compartment adjacent to the falling side of the rotor.

3. In a cooler, a tank divided into liquid containing compartments, a rotor divided into sections, one in each compartment, ballle plates arranged in the tank, and means to direct the flow of the liquid into each compartment at the side at which the plates of the rotor emerge from the water and the flow of the water out of each compartment at the side at which the plates of the rotor reenter the water in the tank.

a. A cooler comprising a tank, weir plates arranged in pairs therein, the tank having compartments between adjoining pairs of said plates, each weir plate having a portion of its upper edge cut away, the plates of each pair being spaced and having the said cut-away portions at relatively opposite ends thereof for directing liquid to flow from one compartment at an end opposite to where it enters the succeeding compartment.

5. In a cooler, a tank, partitions in said tank dividing the latter into compartments, each partition comprising a plurality of weir plates arranged in spaced relation, each. weir plate having portions of its upper edge cut away, the adjacent plates of each partition having said cut-away portions at relatively opposite ends for permitting the liquid to flow out of one compartment along the space between said plates and into the next compartment, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

Dated this llth day of December, 1915.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE HENRY WALKER.

\Vitnesses:

ARTHUR J. Dnnnn'r'r, CYRIL H. DAVIS.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of .Ea'ccnmv Washington, D. C. 

